Ore-separator.



F. G. scHMmT.

GRE SEPARA'TOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. Z6. 19H.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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F. G'. SCHMIDT.

' ORE SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26. IsIII` 1 ,272, 1 25.. Patented JuIy 9, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNTED STATES rnTENr orricn.

e FRANK GOTTFRIED SCHMIDT, or SAN Josu, CALIFORNIA.

f onE-snranAaron.jy

VTo all whom/t may concern.' v

VVKBe it known that I, FRANK GOTTFRIED SCHMIDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at SanJose, in the county of Santa Clara andState of California, have invented new and useful*Improvements-in Ore-Separators, of which the following is a specili- Y cation.

yThis invention has referencetoorefseparators ;,and it-proposes, briefly, a machine of the lgeneral class or character. stated, hav,

ing certain improvements, hereinafter described at length, `whereby the gold or other precious metal is vv'readily 4rand. effectively separated. from4 the sand fandv gravel, by

which it is borne, and dischargedfroin the function as an ainalgamatoig is equippedVL` Fig. 1.

machine by the aid 0f comparatively-simple and inexpensive vmechanism Vor devices of special'construction. f

According to the invention, the improved.

machine, whichfis designedv primarily to with a setlof agitating devices, preferably in the-,form of paddles; and. these paddles are disposed in two .distinct groups, one of-y which acts to subjectthe,in-coming ore-bearing material to. pressure in anupward direction, Iwhile. the. other group subjects itv to downward press-ure. c ,Asaresult Iof this'arrangemenu. the `particles* of gold or other` *precious metals are rubbedover .the surface of. the mercuryl contained in. thev cylinder, being cleaned fand, to some extent at least,

polished thereby duringsuch action, and

combine, or amalgamate withthe mercuryV inthe-usual ways; whereas the'sand, gravel andy thelike are forced upwardgthrough the cylinder and discharged therefrom by way of, an outlet trough or chute. The ore-bearing material is fed: into the v,cylinder through a special -troughor chute, which delivers it at'the level .of themeicury,so as to be acted upon by the latter andtheseparatingpaddlesj; the passageofsaid. material through e the feed chute and the cleaiiingof thekvalues being. facilitated by means of water jets.v Other. improvements and advantages will appear aslfthe description proceeds. l

In the accompanyingdrawing: Y Figurel. is a vertical'rsectionall view of an ore separator embodying the invention.

Eig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig.,3 is a transverse section online 3-,-3,

Referring more particularly to said draw- I ing, 5,- indicates, generally, Vthevcylind'er elevSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed Mar-c1126, 1917. Serial No. 157,477. r

l, ment of the machine, the conical bottom 6 of, which constitutes a mercury tank of container and 4is providedat its apex with an opening.. into which leads the Lip-turned end of a discharge pipe 7, the' latter beingequipped .with a suitablecontrolling valve 8.

The cylinder may have any desired size, and e may befconstructed of rany suitable material, and it .is preferably furnished at the vjunction of its bottom and body portions with a set of. apertured feet, 9, by means of which (not fshown).

A t its top and bottom, the cylinder lbody is lprovidedwith cross-pieces 10 and l1, hav- 'it may be fastened to a frame or support,

ing alining bearings 12 and 13 for the upper and lower Portions of a vertical shaft 14,

the .upper end of the shaft also passing 1 through an opening inra second cross-'piece 15 disposed above `and parallel with the cross-piece 10, the depending' legs 16 at the opposite ends of the secoiidcross-piece 15 being-lixed 'to the. cylinder 5. This shaft 14 carries vthe two groups -of agitating devices previously referred to, said devices being in the forinof sheet metal paddles or blades 17 andj18. v`These paddles or blades are arrangedin sets of four, Xed to collars 19, adjustably secured to said shaft, and they v,may have any desired conformation, but

preferably aresector-shaped, as shown, their side or'radial edges being curved in one direction orthe other, according as they are ,toexert eithera lifting or a lowering pressure upon Vthe material under treatment. In

thepresen-t lembodiment, vthe lifting group comprisefthethree upper sets of paddles 17, which, ltherefore, have their leading radial edges'depressed and their V'rear radial edges elevated, as shown, while the lowering, sep

arating or rubbing group comprises the jfourth or bottom-set of yblades 18, the edges 18 is located just above the surface of theV mercury, in position to act upon tle incoming ore-bearing material and rub ,it over the mercury in the manner subsequently explained, thepaddles vof the succeeding setsV having diiferent'angular dispositions relative to one another, as shown in Fig, l.

. The paddle shaftltfmaybe' driven inanyv suitable way, but at a comparativelyfslowv,

speed, so as to prevent the in-comingy mate'- rial, from,loeingimmediately carriedupward .i

' ing engagement with. awormu22, thela-tter.-y being-mountedi `a horizontalwshaft 223 whoseioppositeends are Ajournaled and 'sup ported'. in bearing openings provided Vatthe ends ofra pair-bf horizontal1armsi-24f4thatf `arerigidly" connectedcto the-legs :16 oithe,A uppers cross.-.piece 15.1 The-worm shaft 23? 20 mayf,;'in lturn,-be= drivenwifriomgany 'desired-f source iof= power.t The material to be treated is supplied'to the cylinder@ .through a .trough orA chute 25,

which is4 disposedV against 4one.-l side' :of 'said cylinderand extendslfromltop -tobottom-of f the .cylinder body, its lower end-'opening at:V into i the: cylinder.. approximately in line withithea/rubbing blade 18.'r The l chute `is voxconstant breadth,` but ofgradually-del f 30 creasing width fromits upper :to its-lowery end-f, and since=itlis co-extensivein hei-glib.y with `the cylindena continuous gravitaliteed` of the material-into the cylinder wi-ll beinsured, this feeding action .being rvfacilitatedby meansoisa spray of water, thespraying pipe 2611 passing horizontally througlr l the' chute approximately :midway between the;vv

ends'ofithe latter;

Additional' "water pipes 27, 27, opening the gravital settling of the heavy metal parparticles have been separatedv therefrom:

The .discharge-of the afore-mentloned sand and gravel is eiected by wayofan 'inclinedj outlet chute 28', located -aty the upper pori? tion oi'lthecy-lindet' and astenedtothefwall thereofI ini any desired way, the chute-being :under-@theaction of thehtopmostfvfset of inder. L Provision i is made '-or catching any metal particlesy which may" 'be i 'carried 'iup-4 I willl settle 5in passing. along f the {s'aidc'hutei i,272,125 p l A 25andlpass therethrough` by gravity, as-

sisted bythe `j ets of waterfrom the spraying 'pipe 26",' into" the' cylindentlrough the openingBQat the bottom of the chute, said opening being located just above the level of the mercury; (indicated by the brokenslinef,`A

tides-finally combining-with tliemercury inm tlie' usual"wayfand settling down'toward thebottoni-1 of'i the: 'mercury contain'erl 6; whence 9 0 they may/ .be-removed by drawing oft the` mercury throughthepipe*7. As'stlie'matel-'i 3 rial continues to be fedginto'thecylinderf' throughfthechu-te'25,fthe actions'nabovedescribedL likewisec'ontinue, and-the'sandv arid- 95 gravel, after tlie\1neta l`:particles have been separated: therefrom, rise Vtliro'uggh the" spaces next higher setfoii paddles', fand theyyin turn;i

- liitfit stifll :higher-1intoipositionfto be" acted" f '40 into the Vlowerportionfof the cylinder','arej= also provided -for the purpose ofv assisting* l which l .sai d? chuteflisfurnished 'serving-'-to' `ticles toward thevv cylinder bottom,-and the' cleaningL of said' particle'sfas well asjtheg 45 ascentof thesa-nd and grave-l after themetal during ytlrefrubbing action feile'cted*y 'the 7110 lowe'rmostpaddlesflSl "TherotationL ot" the f various Vsetsv of paddles 'serv'esfto keep the "entire bo'dy"of1material continuously in motion as-willibe understood, thusavoidingicloglf' ging,fwhilethe'fstreams of `watenintrodiied V115 i into1 -the cylinder throughA thel two pipes' 1275 located :in a plane belov'v-f\that ofthe upperv edge .of l the' f feed AchuteV and opening-'fintox the cylinder at y its ,upper orinlet end, so1th-atthe .sandfand gravel-will pass y'th'ereinto,Y'

assist both*V the iu'pvvardftravel' 'of the 'wast material and1the=-"gravitalL 'settling voff thf metal` particles, 'as Well fas serv-ing, 'to= some 'il extent, to-washand 'thereby cleansaid parl'iZO Should it -be found fnecessaryfto" f empty the *cylinder `at 'any'ftiineylth'is AE cylinder? mayy be 'Iremovedfsaid `door@beiiig" v1 2 5 l jhere shown as located inthelower-portion riifles 29; betweenwhich the' metall particles offitheicylinderi at the opposite Iside Ethereofl i yfrom thesupply chute 25. In operation! the oreibearing sand, lgravel', f

6 5 etci, yare fed .into the supply-ory inletitroughf i marily 'for'-fse'paratinggli th'efinetal* *joarticles?v :i 30

by amalgamation, it is to be understood that such method need not necessarily be followed, since the apparatus may be operated without the use of mercury, as the metal particles, being heavier than the sand and gravel, will settle down by gravity to the bottom of the cylinder, whence they may be withdrawn through the pipe 7. It is also to be understood that in any case no limitation to the precise structural details disclosed is contemplated, as the invention is obviously susceptible of modification within its specified scope as claimed.

I claim as my inventionl. In an ore separator, the combination of a cylinder; a vertical shaft mounted therein; driving means for said shaft; and upper and lower groups of agitating paddles carried by said shaft; the lower group of paddles being arranged to exert a downward rubbing pressure upon the material under treatment so as to separate the metal particles from the waste and force said particles toward the bottom of the cylinder, and the upper group of' paddles being arranged to exert an upward pressure against the waste so as to cause the same to ascend through said cylinder; said lower group of paddles having portions of their lead ing edges recessed laterally to provide inwardly extending spaces through which the waste may pass into the sphere of action of the upper group.

2. In an ore separator, the combination of a cylinder having a depending bottom portion provided with a discharge opening; a rotary vertical shaft mounted in said cylinder; upper and lower sets of agitating paddles secured to said shaft; and means for introducing the ore-bearing material in a comparatively thin, horizontal layer into said cylinder at a point substantially in line with the lower group of paddles; the said lower group of paddles being inclined in a direction to exert a positive rubbing action directly upon the surface of the material under treatment so as to separate the metal particles from the waste and force said par- Goples of this patent may be obtained for ticles downward toward the bottom of the cylinder, while at the same time lifting the waste into the sphere of action of the upper group, and the upper group of paddles being inclined in a direction to exert an upward pressure against the waste so delivered thereto so as to cause the waste to aseend through said cylinder; said metal particles settling down in said bottom portion to be withdrawn therefrom through said discharge opening.

3. In an ore separator, the combination of a cylinder having a depending bottom portion provided with a discharge opening; a rotary vertical shaft mounted insaid cylinder; upper and lower sets of agitating paddles secured to said shaft; and a vertical chute for the ore-bearing material to be treated arranged at one side of the cylinder and opening at its lower end into said cylinder at a point substantially in line with the lower group of paddles, so as to effect a continuous gravital feed of said material in a comparatively thin, horizontal layer in position to be directly acted'upon by said lowerv group; the said lower group of paddles being inclined in a direction to exert a positive rubbing action directly upon the surface of the material under treatment so as to separate the metal particles from the waste and force said particles downward toward the bottom of the cylinder, while at the same time lifting the waste into the sphere of action of the upper group, and the upper group of paddles being inclined in a direction to exert an upward pressure against the waste so delivered thereto so as to cause the waste to ascend through said cylinder; said metal particles settling down in said bottom portion to be withdrawn therefrom through said discharge opening.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence lof two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK GOTTFRIED SCHMIDT.

Witnesses:

L. A. BossANA, YS. J. BRAY.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

